Federalist vs. Anti-Federalist

Federalist vs. Anti-Federalist

The road to accepting the Constitution of the United

States was neither easy nor predetermined. In fact during

and after its drafting a wide-ranging debate was held

between those who supported the Constitution, the

Federalists, and those who were against it, the

Anti-Federalists. The basis of this debate regarded the

kind of government the Constitution was proposing, a

centralized republic. Included in the debate over a

centralized government were issues concerning the affect the

Constitution would have on state power, the power of the

different branches of government that the Constitution would

create, and the issue of a standing army.

One of the most important concerns of the

Anti-Federalists was that the new form of government would

strip the states of their own power. The Anti-Federalists

feared that by combining the previously independent states

under one government that, "...the states, once sovereign,

would retain but a shadow of their former power..."(Main

120). The Anti-Federalist claimed that if the sovereignty

of the states was to be maintained then the states must be

granted the vital powers of government and the power of

Congress limited. However, they claimed that this was not

so under the Constitution. The Constitution gave Congress

unlimited power and did not explicitly detail any control

that the states would be able to exercise over the Federal

government. The Anti-Federalists stated that since both the

state and Federal government would frequently legislate on

the same matters, if a conflict among their decisions arose

the Federal government would win out because of its

connection to the Supreme Court (Main 124). They feared

that "t...

... middle of paper ...

...ison goes back to his belief that the

Federal government is unlikely to become oppressive because

the people grant its power.

Both the Federalists and the Anti-Federalists believed

strongly in their convictions about the Constitution.

However, in the end, it was the Federalists who won, and the

Constitution was ratified. Looking back in hindsight, it is

easy to see that both groups were right. The Constitution

created a government that has, for the most part, protected

the rights and freedom of its people, but there have also

been moments in American history where the fears of the

Anti-Federalists were realized and corruption was found in

the government. Admiration is felt for both of these

groups, because their debates over that fledgling government

gave rise to a strong Constitution and a strong

representative republic.